Rasheed Wallace will serve as Head Men's Basketball Coach at Jordan High School

University of North Carolina and NBA superstar Rasheed Wallace has been named the head basketball coach for Durham’s Charles E. Jordan High School beginning with the 2019-20 season.

Wallace led the North Carolina Tar Heels to the Final Four in 1995 and was selected in the NBA draft with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Bullets. His NBA career spanned 1995 to 2013 with the Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. He was an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons for one season. He won an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004.

In a meeting with the Jordan varsity and junior varsity basketball teams prior to his announcement, Wallace emphasized that his goal was to prepare his players for college and adulthood.

“I like dealing with high school kids, helping them find a better future by teaching them to work hard,” said Wallace. “I plan to help teach them to be responsible and to hold themselves accountable—what we call ‘adulting.’ If you look at the way the professional game is being played now, there are few people today with skills. This is the best way to start teaching basketball players to play well, in high school. I’ve always had that enthusiasm to be working with kids.”

Wallace’s community volunteerism has included conducting coat drives for children and the homeless for his personal foundation, as well as sponsoring drives for community repairs, computer labs, and libraries for a local high school. His charitable works have earned him several honors including the Wilt Chamberlain Community Service Award and the NBA Assist Award.

"This is a special day for Jordan High School and our athletic department," said Jordan Director of Athletics Shelba Levins. "When we seek leaders for our athletic programs, there are several different types of criteria that are important. We want coaches who can provide both knowledge and leadership with an ability to mentor our student-athletes as they cross the bridge from adolescence to the early stages of adulthood. It is not every day that you can add someone with as rich of a background in basketball, mentorship, and volunteerism as Rasheed Wallace.”

“Jordan High School has a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence,” said Principal Susan Taylor. “Our goal is to continuously work to expand upon this legacy by ensuring the growth of our programs and increasing opportunities for our students.”